Kelly Percy: Batemans Bay bushfire scammer pleads guilty to Covid rort

A woman who scammed more than $50,000 from bushfire charities has accepted responsibility for a new devious scheme, which saw her pose as a small business and claim $12,000 in Covid support.

A Batemans Bay woman who was convicted of defrauding more than $50,000 from bushfire victims in 2019 has plead guilty to taking advantage of another disaster, this time involving Covid small business support.

Kelly Anne Percy is charged with dishonestly obtaining $12,000 from a state government microbusiness relief package aimed at businesses suffering under Covid lockdowns last year, according to agreed police facts.

In July, during the height of lockdowns, the 40-year-old made an application for the grant through the Service NSW online portal using her bank account and BSB, stating that her affected business was Pure Skin and Beauty Clinic, located at 129 Princes Highway, Bodalla.

Checks carried out on the ABN number revealed the number was instead registered to Belinda Vagg as an individual sole trader.

Supplied Editorial Batemans Bay Local Court

Ms Vagg told police Percy had never been involved with the business and was not authorised to make any applications on its behalf.

Percy handed herself into the Batemans Bay Police Station on December 6, a year after a Bega District Court judge agreed to reduce her prison sentence from two years to 18 months after defrauding a number of bushfire relief programs.

Using a fake address, Percy scammed $40,000 from the Red Cross, $3500 from the Salvation army, and $4000 from the St Vincent de Paul Society.

She was arrested after suspicions were raised by Red Cross Australia when she was unable to provide relevant documents proving she lived at the Malua Bay address she claimed had been destroyed by the Clyde Mountain bushfire on New Year’s Eve 2019.

Kelly Anne Percy claimed she lived at the Malua Bay address which was destroyed by the Clyde Mountain bushfire. Picture: Google Maps

According to the police fact sheet Percy has a lengthy criminal history, having previously breached bail conditions and has had warrants issued on her for failing to appear before the court.

“The accused is currently on parole for similar fraud matters where she defrauded charities and victims of bushfires,” the facts state.

“The accused has again shown she has no sympathy for those affected by a major disaster like the Covid situation.”

The facts state Percy is likely to receive a custodial sentence.

She will return to the Batemans Bay Local Court on March 14 for sentencing.